EOC(3) MW 002b

Equality of Opportunity Committee

Inquiry into issues effecting Migrant  Workers

Response from AWEMA

Introduction

The Executive Summary comprises recommendations drawn from conclusions arrived at from the findings collated by four Development Officers from our Curiad Calon Cymru [CCC] Project Partner organisations.

The partner organisations are North Wales Race Equality Network [NWREN] in Conwy Bay, Race Equality First [REF] in Cardiff, Valleys Race Equality Council [VALREC] in the valleys, and All Wales Ethnic Minority Association [AWEMA] in Cardiff/Swansea.

The recommendations are outlined according to the questions set out in the
Inquiry.

Are you aware of the barriers experienced by migrant workers and their families in accessing public services? What are the key reasons for these barriers?

Recommendations

In order to help migrant workers overcome the above barriers, the following measures are suggested:

Encourage greater and adequate ESOL provision to improve migrant workers’ access to public services. Equipping migrant workers with English Language knowledge will help them overcome communication barriers and enable them to access public services independently.

Increase the number of volunteers with knowledge of both the English and any other Languages of recent migration groups in the public service sector so as to assist migrant workers in their enquiries. Make it a practice to employ staff with the skills mentioned above will improve the current situation

Disseminate clear, detailed and adequate information to migrant workers on access to public services in the key languages of the recent migration groups. Deliver this initiative on a large scale, in co-operation with local authorities, employers and service providers to ensure that the information reaches a large number of addresses. As a continuing good practice, produce and distribute Welcome Packs in places, where the proportion of migrant worker population is high.

Enable Information on available interpreting services to be spread widely.

Organise more health promotion activities to focus on shifting the
perceptions of migrant workers on the nature and delivery of health
services.

Organise Workshops with key figures from public services (e.g. Inland Revenue, Housing Council, Jobcentre Plus etc.) so as to inform migrant workers on how to access public services.

Provide adequate funding for service providers to ensure that translation services are used, whenever there is such need.

Include minority languages in Materials and Guidance Notes for Form Filling in all statutory agencies.

Increase the funding for schools so as to meet the needs of children from migrant families should be one of the priorities. Develop new polices on allocating pupils from other European countries at certain levels so as to reduce the disadvantage children face when being transferred to local schools. In addition, ensure that funding for greater teaching support for migrant children is provided.

Organise child care training courses which would give migrant  workers appropriate qualifications to work in local nurseries and reception classes with migrant workers’ children.

Recruit Volunteers to assist children from migrant families at schools.

Conduct Equality & Diversity training for front-line staff of statutory agencies so as to raise their awareness of the issues surrounding migration and to provide quality service for migrant workers.

Can you provide any examples of innovative practice in ensuring that public services are accessible and barriers can be overcome?

Recommendations

The following interventions are proposed so as to support and continue current practice in improving access to public services for migrant workers:

Increase funding to the public sector, schools, ESOL centres and local authorities to enable them to deal with migrant workers and their families.

Provide other necessary means to support and continue current initiative, e.g. access to venues like Drop-In Centres etc.

Conduct Equality & Diversity training sessions for front-line staff in the public sector.

Step up the involvement of volunteers.

Establish Migrant Worker Forums in all the locations with a high
population of migrant workers so as to facilitate links between migrant
workers, employers, service providers and others.

Provide funding for statistical research so as to collect more accurate
information on migrant workers.

A3Can you provide examples of good and poor working and housing
conditions?

Recommendations

Introduce new polices to resolve the problem of unlawful employment methods applied by recruitment agencies. It should be a key long-term nitiative that would improve both working and housing conditions in which migrant workers work and live. If recruitment agencies continue their unfair practices, the process of improving working conditions will be very slow and will not reach the range  of audience that experience these difficulties.

Address the issue of 'Zero Hours Contract.’

Involve Trade Unions so as to promote rights and entitlements,  both with migrant workers and with employers.

Raise awareness among migrant workers on the steps that need to be taken so as to ensure that they are employed according to   employment law.  Workshops on employment law would inform migrant workers what they should expect from the potential employer.

Develop service providers that would specifically assist migrant workers with converting qualifications gained in home countries.
Set up Career Advice Centres so as to help migrant workers gain access to jobs which are relevant to their qualifications and
experience.

Provide training to improve interview and job application  skills.

Provide specialised courses which migrant workers are interested in: IT courses, Security Licence courses, childcare/carer courses and any other vocational course that would help them progress in the labour market.

Provide ESOL programs, which is a fundamental step in improving both working and housing conditions.

Organise art workshops so as to help migrant workers develop confidence in doing something they might be comfortable in

Disseminate more information on accessing the housing sector  and council housing benefits.

Develop employers’ database so as to facilitate links between employers and migrant workers who look for jobs.

A4 Please provide examples of the English and Welsh Language provision for migrant workers and their families in your area. How accessible and appropriate is this provision?

Recommendations

The following interventions are suggested in order to improve access  and appropriateness of ESOL provision for migrant workers:

Raise awareness among employers on the importance of their involvement in creating ESOL provision for migrant workers in work places

Encourage greater co-operation with local colleges, universities and institutes in developing ESOL courses.

Make necessary changes to the existing ESOL initiatives at colleges
and universities so as to make them more accessible for migrant workers.

Develop a database of ESOL teachers who would be involved in ESOL programs.

Establish ESOL classes in an independent venue, targeted specifically at migrant workers with the involvement of volunteers who have ESOL or CELTA qualifications (undergraduate and postgraduate TEFL students). Prior to the commencement of the course, needs analysis should be conducted in order to ascertain the kind of language needs students (migrant workers) have and to develop the appropriate course content.

Provide greater childcare provision for parents who attend ESOL classes (e.g. Llanelli)

Lobby for more funding for ESOL provision.  

What opportunities do migrant workers and their families have to build friendship and social networks between themselves and within local communities? Please provide details of any formal and informal groups or networks in your area.

Recommendations

In order to create more opportunities for migrant workers to socialise,both with other migrant workers and with local communities, the following steps should be taken:

Provide adequate funding and guidance to support newly-established and existing established groups.

Facilitate links among migrant workers through thematic workshops based on information provided by migrant workers in the Needs Analysis Questionnaires.

Establish Migrant Worker Forums to facilitate information sharing among migrant workers and networking among individuals.

Organise multi-cultural events on major national and religious festivals of the countries from which  migrant workers come.

Promote Digital Storytelling in order to exchange views and experiences and to enhance community cohesion.

What are the resource implications for public service providers in areas where a significant proportion of the population are migrant workers and their families?

As evident from the findings, there is a need to support provision of current resources, and more importantly, the need to develop innovative practices.

What are the advantages and challenges for people in local     communities in which migrant workers live and work?
Recommendations

In order to bring about a positive relationship between migrant
workers and the local communities,  the following are recommended:

Organise social events that would include cultural elements from  various community groups.

Facilitate community relations between local people and migrant  workers through various activity projects, e.g. organising cookery  workshop for women etc.

Organise inter-cultural sessions for migrant workers so as to help them
understand other social groups and develop a positive and accepting attitude.  

Introduce elements of inter-cultural education to nurseries and schools so as to help children  learn more about each others
cultures & ways of life, and to develop positive attitudes.

Introduce anti-bullying programs in schools.

Organise workshops on bullying for teachers and students in   schools so as to raise awareness on this issue.

Raise awareness among migrant workers of hate crimes and how to report it. This translates to building trust between police and migrant workers by organising workshops led by police representatives and inviting migrant workers to ask questions and learn more about hate    crimes.

Establish a more co-operative approach between the media and the government, to create a more positive image of migrant workers. migrant workers

Examples of Good Practice

These are as set out in pages 25 - 27 of the main body of the report.